246 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, xiv 



sense of the horrible disproportions of life. I cannot tell 

 whether this was a first draft for the present autobiography, 

 or the beginnings of a larger undertaking. 



Several letters of miscellaneous interest were written 

 before the move to the Engadine took place. They touch 

 on such points as the excessive growth of scientific clubs, 

 the use of alcohol for brain workers, advice to one who was 

 not likely to " suffer fools gladly " about applying for the 

 assistant secretaryship of the British Association, and the 

 question of the effects of the destruction of immature fish, 

 besides personal matters. 



3 Jevington Gardens, Eastbourne, 

 March 22, 1889. 

 My dear Hooker — I suppose the question of amalgamation 

 with the Royal is to be discussed at the Phil. Club. The sooner 

 something of the kind takes place the better. There is really no 

 raison d'etre left for the Phil. Club, and considering the hard 

 work of scientific men in these days, clubs are like hypotheses, 

 not to be multiplied beyond necessity. — Ever yours, 



T. H. Huxley. 



4 Marlborough Place, March 26, 1889. 



My dear Hooker — The only science to which X. has con- 

 tributed, so far as I know, is the science of self-advertisement; 

 and of that he is a master. 



When you and I were youngsters, we thought it the great 

 thing to exorcise the aristocratic flunkeyism which reigned in 

 the R.S. — the danger now is that of the entry of seven devils 

 worse than the first, in the shape of rich engineers, chemical 

 traders, and " experts " (who have sold their souls for a good 

 price), and who find it helps them to appear to the public as if 

 they were men of science. 



If the Phil. Club had kept pure, it might have acted as a 

 check upon the intrusion of the mere trading element. But there 

 seems to be no reason now against Jack and Tom and Harry 

 getting in, and the thing has become an imposture. 



So I go with you for extinction, before we begin to drag in 

 the mud. 



I wish I could take some more active part in what is going 

 on. I am anxious about the Society altogether. But though I 

 am wonderfully well so long as I live like a hermit, and get out 



